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Both Whit and Dominic slowly nodded in agreement.
But Reggie said, “I’ve got some things to take care of, but then I’ll be back here to stay.”
Mallory nodded. “Good, that’s settled. Now let’s move on to more important issues, namely Fedir Kuchin and his unfortunate survival.”
“We’ll go after him again, like we talked about yesterday,” said Whit.
“I actually agree, after much deliberation, with your Mr. Shaw,” said Mallory, surprisingly.
Reggie, having not been privy to this conversation, said, “Agree with him in what way?”
Whit spoke up. “He’s talking about your buddy’s assessment that Kuchin will be coming after us. So instead of going after him we have to guard our own flanks.”
“We talked about that too, right before we parted company,” said Reggie.
Mallory rose, walked over to the empty fireplace, and knocked out the dregs from a new pipe into the hearth. “I’m sure you did. Indeed, it seems that this other organization might be more aptly suited to take Mr. Kuchin down than we are.”
Whit burst out, “But they’re not going to do it. I told you that. They were pulling out. Apparently they don’t care that he’s selling girls as whores. Once he dropped the nuke angle it was all copacetic as far as those blokes were concerned.”
“That was before they knew who he was.” He looked at Reggie. “You told him, correct? That Waller was Fedir Kuchin?”
“Yes. But he didn’t know who that was.”
Mallory took a few moments to puff his pipe to life. “No matter. He will look into it now, and then there you are. When he knows the real Butcher of Kiev is out there, chances are very good that either they’ll go after him or they’ll notify another appropriate agency to do so.”
“So we just fob off on them the job we set out to do?” said Reggie. “Why should they have to deal with him?”
Mallory eyed her with interest. “Are you really thinking why should this Shaw fellow have to deal with him?”
Reggie’s face reddened. “That is not what I said, Professor.”
“And there’s no guarantee they will go after him,” protested Whit. “They might have other things on their agenda.”
Mallory turned to him. “There are no guarantees about anything we do, Whit. And I believe this is the best we can do. At least currently.”
“Well, I disagree.”
“I don’t mind disagreement so long as you do not turn it into unilateral action.”
“Well, what if Kuchin ends up walking free?”
“There ar
e many men like him out there. I will not jeopardize catching all of them in order to take one down.”
Whit snapped, “But we’ve already shown him the shit from his past. Now all we need to do is kill the bastard. A rifle shot from long distance. Poison in his morning coffee. Stick the prick in the street with an umbrella tipped with poison, like they did that Bulgarian fellow.”
Mallory shook his head. “But since the authorities presumably will know who he is, they will investigate his death and past and publicize their results to the world—that he is indeed the Butcher of Kiev. And all others will be warned.”
“All others?” scoffed Whit. “You think these assholes send out newsletters to each other? Look out, fellow scum, the good guys are gunning for you? I’ve never bought that rationale before, Prof, and I sure as hell don’t buy it now. You’re saying we as good as let him go free forever.”
“No, I said we can let others handle it for now.”
Reggie spoke up. “I think I side with Whit on this, but the problem is that Kuchin will dig in so deep now we’ll never be able to find him. He probably has safe houses all over the world.”
“Since we have limited resources, that makes all the more reason to move on to someone else. But for now, I think all of you should relax and regroup. Dominic needs to heal physically.” Mallory looked at Reggie and then at Whit. “And you need to do so in other ways.”
“My head is on as straight as ever,” muttered Whit.
